Adjustable waist band arrangement

ABSTRACT

An improved adjustable waist band arrangement for providing a garment adjustable to fit all sizes within a predetermined range and still provide a tailored, finished appearance. The adjustable waist band arrangement is provided with a waist encircling band having a resiliently stretchable back portion. A pair of front portions of the band are coupled to each of the ends of the stretchable back portion. The front portions are adapted to be positioned in the front of the waist of the wearer in an overlapping arrangement. Restraining means are provided for holding the over-lapped front portions detachably together. The waist encircling band may be coupled to, for example, a skirt. A nonstretchable belt means extends around the back portion of the waist encircling band and has ends that are detachably fastenable by, for example, a plurality of buttons, to the pair of front portions. Depending upon the waist size of the wearer, the buttons to which the nonstretchable belt means is detachably fastened are selected to provide a comfortable fit. The resiliently stretchable back portion of the waist encircling band allows the waist encircling band to stretch to fit any desired waist size.

States Patent 1 Feb. 26, 1974 ADJUSTABLE wAisT BAND ARRANGEMENT [76] Inventor: Gloria C. Kadison, P.O. Box 626,

Thousand Oaks, Calif. 91360 22 Filed: Oct. 16, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 297,592

[52] US. Cl. 2/221, 2/237 [51] Int. Cl A41d 1/14 [58] Field of Search 2/237, 221, 76, 236, 220

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,821,818 9/1931 Snyder 2/237 X 176,939 5/1876 Eager 2/237 690,635 l/ l902 Carter 2/237 X 2,590,616 3/1952 Heller 2/237 1,998,865 4/1935 Fekete 2/237 Primary Examiner-H. Hampton Hunter Attorney, Agent, or F irmDon B. Finkelstein [57] ABSTRACT An improved adjustable waist band arrangement for providing a garment adjustable to fit all sizes within a predetermined range and still provide a tailored, finished appearance. The adjustable waist band arrangement is provided with a waist encircling band having a resiliently stretchable back portion. A pair of front portions of the band are coupled to each of theends of the stretchable back portion. The front portions are adapted to be positioned in the front of the waist of the wearer in an overlapping arrangement. Restraining means are provided for holding the over-lapped front portions detachably together. The waist encircling band may be coupled to, for example, a skirt. A nonstretchable belt means extends around the back portion of the waist encircling band and has ends that are detachably fastenable by, for example, a plurality of buttons, to the pair of front portions. Depending upon the waist size of the wearer, the buttons to which the nonstretchable belt means is detachably fastened are selected to provide a comfortable fit. The resiliently stretchable back portion of the waist encircling band allows the waist encircling band to stretch-to fit any desired waist size.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED I 3.793.645

SHEET 2 [IF 2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the garment art, and more particularly to an adjustable waist band arrangement for garments in which one standardized configuration is adaptable to provide a variety of waist sizes.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the manufacturing of articles of clothing such as, for example, skirts or other types of waist encircling garments, it is often desirable to provide a single garment that will fit a large variety of sizes. That is, identical garments may be worn by different people having different waist sizes. Such garments are often termed expandable garments. It is, of course, economically advantageous to be able to provide a standardized as to size garment that is readily wearable by different size people. The manufacturer need only manufacture one size garment, and the retail outlets need only stock a single size garment.

Many attempts in the past have been directed towards providing various types of expandable garments readily adaptable to a variety of waist sizes. This is particularly true, of course, in the provision of maternity clothing where it is known that the person buying the garment will gradually increase in waist size. Other applications include, of course, garments worn by individuals wherein the individual may gain or lose weight. In other applications, of course, there has been an attempt to provide, in mens clothing, adjustable or variable waist encircling bands for pants or the like.

Certain of the prior art United States patents dealing with maternity skirts are exemplified by, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,357,828, 2,021,711, 2,021,711, 2,272,017, 2,423,666, 2,661,468, and 3,013,277. However, none of these skirts provided a high fashion, tailored appearance despite the adjustments made in the size of the waist.

Similarly, in expandable skirt arrangments, such as those exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 477,833, 1,103,148, 1,104,625, 1,928,137, 2,729,822 or 2,757,380, there have not been provided the high fashion or tailored loock desirable in womens clothing.

Certain prior United States Letters Patents involving mens garments with adjustable waistband arrangements or the like are exmplified by, for example, U.S. Pats. 795,064, 1,017,544, 1,403,974, or 1,139,310. The garments provided by these patents were generally not of the full fashion or tailored look desirable by the manufacturers of womens clothing.

Certain other United States Letters Patents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 2,467,7l4,merely provided a beltarrangement for providing a coat-like appearance to a garment, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,747,197 wherein a removable insert could be provided in a skirt for fashion dictates.

Thus, there has long been a need in the fashion industry for an improved waist encircling band for a garment, and in particular for ladies skirts or the like, that provides a high fashion, fully tailored appearance and is expandable to fit a variety of waist sizes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION.

- Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved waist band arrangement for a garment.

It is anotherobject of the present invention to provide an improved expandable waist band arrangement for garments.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an expandable waist band arrangement particularly adapted to ladies skirts in which the garment, despite the waist size of the wearer, always has a full fashioned and highly tailored appearance.

The above, and other objects of the present invention, are achieved in a preferred embodiment thereof, by providing, attached to a skirt, a waist encircling band having a resiliently stretchable back portion and a pair of front portions coupled thereto. The front portions are detachably fastenable together in an overlapping alignment in the front of the wearer.

A nonstretchable belt means extends around the back portion and partly around the two front portions and are detachably fastenable to the external surfaces of the two front portions. A plurality of fastening means such as, for example, buttons are provided in spaced relationship on both of the front portions. Each end of the nonstretchable belt means is detachably fastenable to any one of the fastening means, such as buttons, on the adjacent front portion.

The front portions of the waist encircling band are provided with restraining means to restrain them in a fixed relationship.

Thus, the resiliently stretchable back protion of the waist encircling band allows the waist encircling band to fit a large variety of sizes of waists within the limits of stretchability of the back portion. The nonstretchable belt means, on the other hand, covers the resiliently stretchable back portion and by buttoning in front to the front portions provides a full fashioned, highly tailored appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the line 22 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view along the line 3 -3 of FIG. 1; and FIG. 4 is a view along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the improved adjustable waist band arrangement, generally designated 10, according to the principles of the present invention, and illustrated thereon as attached to a wraparound skirt 112'.

The adjustable waist band 10 is generally comprised of a waist encircling band 14 having a resiliently stretchable back portion 16, a first front portion 18 having a first end 20 coupled to a first end 22 of the back portion 16, and an outer end 24. A second front portion 26 has a first end 28 coupled to a second end 30 of the resiliently stretchable back portion 16 and an outer end 32. The outer end 24 of the first front portion 18 is spaced a preselected distance from the first end 20 thereof, and the outer end 32 of the second front portion 26 is spaced a second preselected distance from the first end 28 thereof. The first preselected distance may be the same or different from the second preselected distance The first front portion 18 and second front portion 26 are adapted to lie in an overlapping alignment in the front of the waist of the wearer. To provide this overlapping alignment, a restraining means which comprises a first interior'fastening means 34 which, for example, may be comprised of a conventional hook and eye, or hook and channel-type detachable fastening means, having a hook portion 36 coupled to the outer end 24 of the first front portion 18 and on the exterior surface, generally designated 38 of the waist encircling band 14 detachably fastenable to an eye or channel 40 coupled to the second front portion 26 on the interior surface, generally designated 42 of the waist encircling band 14.

t ln this embodiment of the present invention, the outer end 32 of the second front portion 26 is restrained adjacent the outer surface 38 of the first front portion 18 by detachably fastening to a first belt fastening means 44 which may comprise a button, and the outer portion 32 of the second front portion 26 has walls 46 defining a buttonhole 48 for detachable fastening to the first belt fastening means 44, and thus comprises a second interior fastening means.

In other embodiments of the present invention, it will be appreciated, the second interior fastening means maybe a hook and eye, similar to the hook and eye in the first interior fastening means 34 described above. Alternatively, in another embodiment of the present invention, both the first interior fastening means 34 and the second interior fastening means may be conventional snap fasteners.

In any event, when the first interior fastening means and second interior fastening means are suitably detachably coupled together, the waist encircling band 14 fits snugly and securely about the waist of the wearer. The resiliently stretchable back portion 16 allows the circumference of the waist encircling band 14 to expand or contract, within the limits of stretchability thereof, to fit snugly on a large variety of waist sizes.

In order to provide a finished tailored high fashion appearance to theskirt, there is also provided a nonstretchable belt means 50 extending around the outside surface 38 of the waist encircling band 14 adjacent the back surface 16 thereof and extending a preselected distance along the first front portion 18 and second front portion 26 thereof. The nonstretchable belt means 50 is restrained in place by, for example, a plurality of belt loops 52.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, a first plurality of belt fastening means 54 comprising the buttons 54', 54" and, if desired, the button 44 are coupled to the outside surface 38 of the first front portion 18 in a spaced relationship. A first end 56 of the nonstretchable belt means 50 is provided with walls 58 defining a buttonhole 60 that is detachably fastenable in any of the first plurality of belt fastening means 54, such as the buttons 44, 54 or 54".

A second plurality of belt fastening means, generally designated 62, and comprising the buttons 62" and 62" are coupled in spaced relationship on the outside surface 38 of the second. front portion 26, and the second end 64 of the nonstretchable belt means 50 is provided with walls 66 defining a buttonhole 68 that is detachably fastenable on any one of the second plurality of belt fastening means 62', 62" or 62".

Thus, when the first front portion 18 and second front portion 26 of the waist encircling band 52 have been detachably fastened together in the overlapping alignment hereinabove described, the nonstretchable belt means 50 is then detachably fastened to any one of the plurality of belt fastening means 54 and 62 to provide a desired fit therearound. It will be appreciated that the number of belt fastening means in each of the first plurality 54 of second plurality 62 thereof may be varied and may be more than three or less than three. Additionally, the buttons and buttonholes illustrated for providing the detachable fastening may be replaced by, for example, snap fasteners, hook and eye fasteners,

- or any other type of detachable fastening. However,

buttons are preferred because the stylish appearance thereof adds to the overall attractiveness of the adjustable waist band 10.

FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and shows a preferred structural arrangement for the resiliently stretchable back portion 16 and the method of attachment to the front portion, such as front portion 26. As shown in FIG. 2, the back portion 16 is double walled to define a seam pocket 70 in which an elastic band 72 is positioned. The double walls of the 1 back portion 16 and the elastic band 72 are sewn to the double walled front portions, such as front portion 26, along a line indicated by the dotted line 74.

The belt loops 52 are sewn to the inside surface 42 of the waist encircling band 14, and to the outside surface 38 thereof so that the nonstretchable belt 50 may extend therethrough and be retained thereby. It will be appreciated that the attachment of the first front portion 18 to the back portion 16 and the elastic band 72 contained therein may be made in the manner identical to that shown for the attachment of the second front portion 26 thereto. Y

This concludes the description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. From the above it can be seen that there has been described an adjustable waist band arrangement attachable to, for example, skirts, or the like, and in which a single size is readily adaptable for utilization by persons having different waist sizes and still provides a full high fashioned and fully tailored appearance. Those skilled in the art may find many variations and adaptions of the invention described herein. The appended claims are intended to cover all such variations and adaptations falling within the true scope and spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. An adjustable waist band arrangement comprising, in combination:

a waist encircling band having a resiliently stretchable back portion and a pair of front portions detachably fastenable together in an overlapping alignment;

interior fastening means coupled to said pair of front portions of said waist encircling band for providing said detachable fastening together of said pair of front portions in said overlapping alignment;

a non-stretchable belt means extending around said back portion on an external surface thereof and comprising:

a plurality of belt loops coupled to said waist encir cling band in spaced relationship, and said belt means extending therethrough.

3. An adjustable waistband arrangement comprising,

in combination:

a waist encircling band having an internal surface adapted to be adjacent the waist of the wearer, and an external surface, and said waist encircling band comprising:

a back portion having a first end and a second end;

a first front portion coupled to said first end of said back portion and extending a first preselected distance therefrom to an outer end; and

a second front portion coupled to said second end of said back portion and extending a second preselected distance therefrom to an outer end thereof;

said back portion of said waist encircling band being resiliently expandable;

restraining means comprising:

first interior fastening means coupled to said first and second front portions for detachably fastening said outer end of said first front portion to said interior surface of said second front portion in an overlapping alignment, wherein said outer end of said first front portion is adjacent the waist of the wearer;

a first plurality of spaced apart belt fastening means coupled to said external surface of said first front portion intermediate said outer end thereof and a second plurality of spaced apart belt fastening means coupled to said external surface of said seocnd front portion intermediate said outer end and said back portion; and

a nonexpandable belt means extending around said back portion of said waist encircling band on said external surface thereof and having a first end detachably fastenable to any of said first plurality of belt fastening means and a second end detachably fastenable to any of said second plurality of belt fastening means. 4. The arrangement defined in claim 3 wherein: said outer end of said second front portion of said waist encircling band is detachably fastenable to a first of said first plurality of belt fastening means;

and

a plurality of belt loop means coupled to said waist encircling band and said belt means extending through said belt loops.

5. The arrangement defined in claim wherein: said restraining means further comprises:

second interior fastening means coupled to said first and second front portions for restraining said outer end of said second front portion to said exterior surface of said first front portion.

6. The arrangement defined in claim 3 wherein:

said first and said second plurality of belt fastening means comprises buttons in spaced relationship on the external surface of said first and second front portions of said waist encircling band;

said first and second ends of said belt means having walls defining buttonholes therethrough adjacent the ends thereof for detachably buttoning to any of said buttons in said first and second purality of belt fastening means; and

said first interior fastening means of said restraining means comprises a hook and channel detachable fastener.

7. The arrangement defined in claim 3 wherein:

said first interior fastening means of said restraining means comprises a snap fastener; and

said restraining means further comprises:

a second interior fastening means coupled to said first and second front portions of said waist encir cling band for restraining said outer end of said second front portion to said exterior surface of said first front portion, and said second interior fastening means comprises a snap fastener. 

1. An adjustable waist band arrangement comprising, in combination: a waist encircling band having a resiliently stretchable back portion and a pair of front portions detachably fastenable together in an overlapping alignment; interior fastening means coupled to said pair of front portions of said waist encircling band for providing said detachable fastening together of said pair of front portions in said overlapping alignment; a non-stretchable belt means extending around said back portion on an external surface thereof and having ends detachably fastenable to said front portions of said waist encircling band in a spaced apart relationship; and pair of front portions for providing said detachable fastening of said ends of said nonstretchable belt means in said spaced apart relationship to said front portions of said waist encircling band.
 2. The arrangement defined in claim 1 and further comprising: a plurality of belt loops coupled to said waist encircling band in spaced relationship, and said belt means extending therethrough.
 3. An adjustable waistband arrangement comprising, in combination: a waist encircling band having an internal surface adapted to be adjacent the waist of the wearer, and an external surface, and said waist encircling band comprising: a back portion having a first end and a second end; a first front portion coupled to said first end of said back portion and extending a first preselected distance therefrom to an outer end; and a second front portion coupled to said second end of said back portion and extending a second preselected distance therefrom to an outer end thereof; said back portion of said waist encircling band being resiliently expandable; restraining means comprising: first interior fastening means coupled to said first and second front portions for detachably fastening said outer end of said first front portion to said interior surface of said second front portion in an overlapping alignment, wherein said outer end of said first front portion is adjacent the waist of the wearer; a first plurality of spaced apart belt fastening means coupled to said external surface of said first front portion intermediate said outer end thereof and a second plurality of spaced apart belt fastening means coupled to said external surface of said seocnd front portion intermediate said outer end and said back portion; and a nonexpandable belt means extending around said back portion of said waist encircling band on said external surface thereof and having a first end detachably fastenable to any of said first plurality of belt fastening means and a second end detachably fastenable to any of said second plurality of belt fastening means.
 4. The arrangement defined in claim 3 wherein: said outer end of said second front portion of said waist encircling band is detachably fastenable to a first of said first plurality of belt fastening means; and a plurality of belt loop means coupled to said waist encircling band and said belt means extending through said belt loops.
 5. The arrangement defined in claim wherein: said restraining means further comprises: second interior fastening means coupled to said first and second front portions for restraining said outer end of said second front portion to said exterior surface of said first front portion.
 6. The arrangement defined in claim 3 wherein: said first and said second plurality of belt fastening means comprises buttons in spaced relationship on the external surface of said first and second front portions of said waist encircling band; said first and second ends of said belt means having walls defining buttonholes therethrough adjacent the ends thereof for detachably buttoning to any of said buttons in said first and second purality of belt fastening means; and said first interior fastening means of said restraining means comprises a hook and channel detachable fastener.
 7. The arrangement defined in claim 3 wherein: said first interior fastening means of said restraining means comprises a snap fastener; and said restraining means further comprises: a second interior fastening means coupled to said first and second front portions of said waist encircling band for restraining said outer end of said second front portion to said exterior surface of said first front portion, and said second interior fastening means comprises a snap fastener. 